consumer expenditure surveys the gap in the consumption expenditure share of richest 10 percent and bottom 40 President of India congratulates ISRO for the successful launch of GSLV-MARK III
New Delhi. The first experimental suborbital flight of India's latest generation launch vehicle which is also the heaviest and upgraded rocket, GSLV Mk-III carried the Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE). The flight took off from ISRO's space station Sriharikotta, near Chennai. GSLV Mark III took to the skies in test flight
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the successful launch of GSLV-Mark III.
In a message to Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman of ISRO, the President has said, “Please accept my heartiest congratulations to your team and you at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the successful launch of India’s latest generation rocket-Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mark III), carrying the ‘Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE)’.
The launch of GSLV-Mark III is an important landmark in our space programme and demonstrates, yet again, India’s growing capabilities in space launch technology.
Kindly convey my greetings to the members of your team of scientists, engineers, technologists and all others involved in this mission. I wish your future endeavours continued success”.
Prime Minister Congratulates scientists for successful launch of GSLV Mk-III.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated scientists for successful launch of GSLV Mk-III.
“Successful launch of GSLV Mk-III is yet another triumph of brilliance and hardwork of our scientists. Congrats to them for the efforts”, said the Prime Minister.
First Experimental Flight of India’s Next Generation Launch Vehicle GSLV MK-III Successful
The first experimental flight (GSLV Mk-III X/CARE) of India’s next generation launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III was successfully conducted today (December 18, 2014) morning from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. Also known as LVM3-X/CARE, this suborbital experimental mission was intended to test the vehicle performance during the critical atmospheric phase of its flight and thus carried a
passive (non-functional) cryogenic upper stage.
The mission began with the launch of GSLV Mk-III at 9:30 am IST from the Second Launch Pad as scheduled and about five and a half minutes later, carried its payload – the 3775 kg Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) – to the intended height of 126 km. Following this, CARE separated from the upper stage of GSLV Mk-III and re-entered the atmosphere and safely landed over Bay of Bengal with the help of its parachutes about 20 minutes 43 seconds after lift-off.
Two massive S-200 solid strap-on boosters, each carrying 207 tons of solid propellants, ignited at vehicle lift-off and after functioning normally, separated 153.5 seconds later. L110 liquid stage ignited 120 seconds after lift-off, while S200s were still functioning, and carried forward for the next 204.6 seconds. CARE separated from the passive C25 cryogenic upper stage of GSLV Mk-III 330.8 seconds after lift-off and began its guided descent for atmospheric re-entry.
After the successful re-entry phase, CARE module’s parachutes opened, following which it gently landed over Andaman Sea about 1600 km from Sriharikota, there by successfully concluding the GSLV Mk-III X/CARE mission.
With today’s successful GSLV Mk-III X / CARE mission, the vehicle has moved a step closer to its first developmental flight with the functional C25 cryogenic upper stage.
Mines & Steel Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar Chairs Consultative Committee on Steel
The Union Minister for Steel and Mines, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar chaired the first meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Ministry of Steel held here yesterday. In the meeting, which revolved around the functioning of National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Shri Tomar apprised the Committee that in a recent review meeting held with NMDC, he has directed the PSU to accelerate their production of iron ore to meet the requirement of domestic steel industry. He informed the members that NMDC will raise its production of iron ore to 75 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by the year 2018-19. He also informed that NMDC plans to enter into exploration in India to build knowledge regarding reserves of various minerals in the country. Minister asked NMDC to address each of the issues raised by members.
In a presentation made before the committee, Chairman NMDC Mr N Kothari mentioned about NMDC’s plan to develop a new 7MT mine in Chhattisgarh, namely, Deposit 11B. This was in addition to NMDC’s diamond mine at Panna in Madhya Pradesh with a capacity of 1 lakh carats per year, one of its kind in India. He spoke about NMDC’s plan to venture into the steel sector, by setting up a 3 MTPA integrated steel plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh, in addition to setting up another integrated Steel Plant in Bellary, Karnataka. The company is also coming up with pellet plants at Chhattisgarh and Karnataka utilising the slimes earlier classified as rejects. The company is also diversifying into mining of limestone, magnesite, coal and high value minerals. NMDC has set up a Business Development Department to acquire overseas mining assets, especially in the field of iron ore, manganese and fertilizer minerals, and has acquired first mineral asset of iron ore abroad, that is, Legacy Iron Ore Limited, Australia where its stake is 74.8%. NMDC contributed Rs. 8952 crore to the Central Government exchequer and Rs. 932 crore to the State Government exchequer for the year 2013-14 in form of corporate sales tax. NMDC produced and dispatched more than 30 MT of iron ore, and plans to produce about 32 MT in FY2014-15.
Committee members discussed various issues concerning NMDC’s performance and CSR activities, including its contribution in the area of healthcare, education, employment, training, skill development and infrastructure development. The members agreed that more exploration was required in bauxite, granite, manganese, gold etc in different parts of the country. They underscored the importance of opening closed mines and providing leases to those which can be made operational. They called for greater synergy in the functioning of Ministries of Steel, Mines and Coal.
Minister of State for Steel and Mines, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Members of the Parliament, Shri M. Chandrakashi, Shri Janardhan Singh Sigriwal, Shri Mahender Nath Pandey, Shri Sher Singh Ghubaya, Shri Shyama Charan Pandey, Shri Laxman Giluwa and Smt. G Sudharani from Lok Sabha and Shri Tapan Kumar Sen from Rajya Sabha were present on the occasion. Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Shri Rakesh Singh and senior officials from the Ministry, NMDC and other Steel PSUs were also present in the meeting.
Swachh Bharat Mission
The Government of India has launched “Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)” on 2nd October, 2014 with the following objectives:-
(i) Eliminate open defecation,
(ii) Conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets,
(iii) Eradication of manual scavenging,
(iv) 100% collection and scientific processing/disposal reuse/recycle of Municipal Solid Waste,
(v) To bring about a behavioral change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices,
(vi) Generate awareness among the citizens about sanitation and its linkages with public health.
(vii) Strengthening of urban local bodies to design, execute and operate systems,
(viii) To create enabling environment for private sector participation in Capital Expenditure and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) costs.
The Mission has following components:-
(i) Construction of Household Toilets,
(ii) Community and Public Toilets,
(iii) Solid Waste Management,
(iv) Information, Education & Communication (IEC) and Public Awareness,
(v) Capacity Building and Administrative & Office Expenses (A&OE).
The total cost estimate for the Mission is Rs. 62,009 crore, out of which the Central Government’s contribution amounts to Rs.14,623 crore. The funding pattern between the Central Government and the State Government/ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is 75%:25%(90% : 10% for North Eastern and special category states). The gap in financing of the aforesaid components could be met by the beneficiary contribution, private funding, funds with private companies under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Swachh Bharat Kosh of the Ministry of Finance. Various awareness campaigns have already been initiated at all levels to create awareness and people’s participation in the Mission. State Government/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will undertake infrastructure work as per mission guidelines. The guidelines are being finalized. No funds have been released so far, under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) also play a strategic role in creating awareness and imparting hygiene education among the local population. Initiatives under Information, Education and Communication (IEC) which have been taken up to improve rural participation in the SBM (Gramin) include enhancing the budget for IEC activities, implementation of Sanitation and Hygiene Advocacy and Communication Strategy Framework (2012-17), which provides a framework to States to develop State-specific Action Plans for rolling out of advocacy and communication activities related to the Programme; involvement of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Village Level Motivators (Swachhata Doots/Sanitation Managers), field functionaries like Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi Workers, School Teachers, and Bharat Nirman Volunteers to carry out field level activities. SBM (G) also has a provision for ‘Social Audit’ for continuous and comprehensive public vigilance of the programme.
This information was given by the Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu in a written reply to Shri Pravesh Hashmi in the Rajya Sabha today.
Solid waste management one of the admissible components under Swachh Bharat Mission
Municipal Solid Waste Management including management of Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste is a State subject. The Ministry of Urban Development acts as a facilitator in framing broad policies, programmes and guidelines on sanitation including municipal solid waste management and also supplements the efforts of State Governments/ULB through central assistance.
Ministry of Urban Development has launched Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) on 2nd October, 2014. The Mission covers all 4041 statutory towns/cities as per 2011 census. Solid waste management is one of the admissible components under SBM.
Ministry of Urban Development issued an advisory to all State Governments on 31st October, 2013 stating that the construction & demolition (C&D) waste can be beneficially used by proper processing and recycling to suffice for raw material which is increasingly becoming scarce resources in many states.
Under SBM Financial assistance upto 20% as viability gap funding (VGF) for solid waste management including recycling of construction and demolition waste shall be admissible to the State Governments for implementation of projects.
Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi has set up a Public Private Partnership (PPP) facilities at Burari to reuse construction and demolition (C&D) waste by converting the waste to pavement blocks, kerbstones and as sub-base in road construction. The facility at Burari receives 500 TPD of C&D waste daily.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development Shri Babul Supriyo in a written reply to Shri Pramod Tiwari, Dr T.Subbarami Reddy, Shri Darshan Singh Yadav, and Shri P. Bhattacharya in the Rajya Sabha today.AADHAAR ecosystem has provisions to ensure data security
The architecture of Aadhaar ecosystem has been designed to ensure data security, privacy, non-duplication, data integrity and other related aspects. Government is fully
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alive of the need to constantly upgrade the technology and infrastructure to maintain highest level of data security and integrity. For this purpose, a well- designed and robust data security system is in place. Security is an integral part of the system from the initial design to the final stage and security audits are conducted on regular basis. A multi-layer approach is adopted in providing security measures with multiple formats being used at different steps from the point of collection to the ending stage. Security of data is monitored at all the times i.e. at rest, in transit and in storage. Security and privacy of personal data are fully ensured, without sacrificing the utility of the project. Various policies and procedures have been defined, these are reviewed and updated continually thereby appropriately controlling and monitoring any movement of people, material and data in and out of UIDAI premises, particularly the data centres. Further strengthening of security and privacy of data is an ever evolving process, and all possible steps are taken to make the data safer and protected. This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Planning, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister said that a total amount of Rs. 5311.60 crores has been spent by UIDAI on the Aadhaar project, as on 30th November 2014.
Governments’ programmes to ensure inclusive growth
The development agenda of the Government is focused on triggering a development process which will meet the objective of not just faster economic growth but also inclusive growth, that is, a growth process which yields broad-based benefits and ensures equality of opportunity for all. In this regard the Government has initiated various measures to ameliorate the standard of living of the people and to benefit the people at the lower end of the income distribution through direct intervention by implementing specific poverty reduction and mitigation programmes.This includes Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), National Health Mission (NHM), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Swachh Bharat Mission etc. These interventions are expected to yield better results over time in terms of reduction in the gap between rich and poor and overall balanced development in the country. This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Planning, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.